Malta kick-started the UEFA Boys U15 Development Tournament in style, getting a convincing 3-0 win over Gibraltar after a dominant display.
Malta started off well, when they were awarded a free-kick in the opening two minutes after a foul on Cole Zerafa on the edge of the box. The ball was whipped into the box, and Giorgio Cristauro was first to make contact, but his attempt was easily saved.
In the opening 10 minutes, both sides were still trying to get a foothold of the match, with the two teams stringing a couple of neat passes, particularly Malta, who seemed to have greater control of the midfield. On the 11-minute mark, Fionn Dullard found himself in some space, flicking the ball back to Lukas Wright, yet he failed to hit the shot cleanly and the ball trickled wide.
20 minutes into the game, Malta broke free after a loose pass from the Gibraltar midfield, and the ball was then squared to Dullard, who made no mistake from close range to put Malta ahead.
From then on, Malta seemed to be in control of the match, and were constantly dangerous, especially out wide. They came very close to doubling their lead, when Wright found himself free in the box, but he saw his header go narrowly wide. In another instance, Malta were once again awarded a free-kick from close range, and Wright saw his attempt just about go outside of the post.
On the 35-minute mark, Gibraltar came forward after pressing the Maltese defence, and Robert Guiling attempted a shot from outside the box, but he saw his shot go just over the bar.
However, Malta remained the better side, and they got their reward 38 minutes into the game, when Giorgio Cristauro broke free on the left flank, before crossing the ball on the ground to find Wright, who turned and tucked the ball away neatly past Gibraltar goalkeeper Lucas Becerra Lopez.
Malta came close to making it three on a couple of occasions in the closing stages of the first half, both from long-range attempts from Nicholas Busuttil, yet his two shots sailed just past the post, leaving the score 2-0 at the break.
The second half started as the first ended with Malta having most of the ball. On the 55th minute, Malta were awarded a free-kick from the edge of the box in the 55th minute, Busuttil fired the ball under the wall and made it 3-0.
The two sides made a number of changes following the third goal, yet the Maltese maintained their momentum and control in the game. A golden opportunity was presented to Kenzil Vella on 68 minutes, when Cristauro delivered a brilliant ball from the left, but the forward could not finish it.
Malta remained dominant for the rest of the half and held out for a 3-0 win, starting the tournament in great fashion.
Up next, Malta will face off against Estonia on Thursday 3rd October at 13:30hrs.
Malta
1 Noah Mulholland (GK) (12 Deyan Gatt 73′), 2 Liam Gatt (13 Robbie Formosa 59′), 5 Adam Miceli (14 Matteo Mangion 59′), 6 Jayden Roe (C), 4 Kaiden Grixti, 3 Giorgio Cristauro (15 Jake Bonnici 69′), 10 Nicholas Busuttil (17 Sean Farrugia 69′), 8 Ayrem Aquilina (16 Kayden Hili 69′), 11 Fionn Dullard (18 Luke Buttigieg 59′), 9 Lukas Wright (20 Rhys Vassallo 69′), 7 Cole Zerafa (19 Kenzil Vella 59′)
Coach: Jonathan Holland
Gibraltar
1 Lucas Becerra Lopez, 2 Filipe Hill De Oliveira (12 Nicholas Pinson Ramos 72′), 3 Kaion Drakes, 4 Julian Lima (19 Evan Garro 46′), 5 Ryan Casciaro (18 Callum Goldwin 56′), 7 Jaxsen Ramirez Alman (17 Aiden Desoiza Attard, 72′), 8 Robert Guiling (6 Aaron Cordon 56′), 9 Lucas Hull De Oliveira, 10 Ilies Achhoud Amziane (15 Imran El Hana 76′), 11 Leon Martinez, 14 Edward Purdy
Coach: Jonathan Sodi
Yellow cards: 4 Julian Lima (GIB), 8 Robert Guiling (GIB)
